NBA Discussion - 2008-2009 Season

[tomalak301]

The NBA season kicks off next week. Anyone else excited. For me personally, I'm not even though I am looking forward to seeing what happens with the Warriors this year. I really hate the fact that Ellis is going to be out until next year. Hopefully they can stay competitive in that time and maybe not go 0-6 like they did last year. At least Jackson isn't suspended.

 

[RevDMV]

Go Lakers.

Man I have no idea how the Warriors are going to turn this year. It'll be interesting to see how quickly the KNBR folks start going after them.

 

[tomalak301]

I think they will be ok. It sounds like this Damarcus Nelson guy is the real deal, and then they still have Maggettie, Jackson, and I expect Wright to get a lot more playing time. It seems to me now that this is the stretch where they just have to survive. After Ellis comes back and gets really going, than they make the playoff run. But now, hopefully they come out looking good.

 

[Calhoun24]

Go Cavs. Now that they have Varejao for the full season, and hopefully, they can make a run at the Celtics.

 

[Mallory]

The Blazers have a young, but potentially very good roster. It should be an interesting season here.

 

[tomalak301]

The Blazers have a young, but potentially very good roster. It should be an interesting season here.

I hope Oden can actually stay healthy. Would love to see what he has.

 

[Mallory]

I've watched him play a few times in the exhibitions. He's still pretty raw, but the talent is there. It'll just be a matter of time for him IMO.

 

[gblews]

The Blazers have a young, but potentially very good roster. It should be an interesting season here.

Yes, I'm looking forward to the shift in the balance of power in the West going back to L.A./Portland on schedule for next season, if not this one.

Its put up or shut up time for both this season, the Blazers attempting to join the league's elite and the Lakers' chasing the ring. Barring injury, it should all be about the Blazers, Lakers, (possibly)Rockets, and Hornets. The Jazz and Spurs have an outside shot.

Warriors will be back in the lottery at the end of the season, Eliis or no Ellis, along with the Clips (a pox on them for their treatment of Elg), and several others.

Looking forward to the season's start.

 

[Mallory]

I don't think it's quite put up or shut up time for the Blazers just yet. With three rookies on the roster and being $25 million under the cap come season end, I think next season is their best shot at making a run at it. I'll just be happy if I get to watch a few playoff games this year.

 

[tomalak301]

Warriors will be back in the lottery at the end of the season, Eliis or no Ellis, along with the Clips (a pox on them for their treatment of Elg), and several others.

After reading that the first time my first thought was "typical Laker fan". Then I thought about it for a moment and you're probably right. The west, like last year is so stacked that even a 48 win team couldn't make the playoffs. However, it is a new season, Jackson doesn't have a suspension, and I'm liking the effort of some of our younger guys. Like I said, the first half of the season is trying to survive. Then when ellis comes back, we'll see what happens. I actually don't expect the warriors to make the playoffs (Hopefully they shore up the defense, but with Nelson, you never know) but if they do, I will think of you and today.

 

[tomalak301]

I didn't see much of Oden, but he looked tentative from what I did see. He's such a big guy that he should be a lot more dominat in the lane than he was. Use the size to his advantage. Of course it was only his first but hopefully it's not his last. That foot injury looked serious, based on the highlight.

I still hate Kobe Bryant, but dang I have to admit he looks like the most dominating player in the league.

 

[RevDMV]

Ouch 12 minutes for Oden. It's just hard when you're on 40 year old legs....wait...


Anyway, one game does not make a season, hope it's not serious. He's a good talent for the league future.

 

[Mallory]

According to the beat reporters here, Oden's injury isn't serious. He wanted to play in the second half but the team held him out as a precautionary measure. I'm not worried about him yet.

As far as how he played? Give him a little time. It was his first NBA game (not counting exhibitions). I thought he showed some enthusiasm and energy out there. He'll get better, I think anyway.

 

[General Kang]

According to the beat reporters here, Oden's injury isn't serious. He wanted to play in the second half but the team held him out as a precautionary measure. I'm not worried about him yet.

As far as how he played? Give him a little time. It was his first NBA game (not counting exhibitions). I thought he showed some enthusiasm and energy out there. He'll get better, I think anyway.

Let's hope it isn't serious - they got run out of the gym last night, for sure. Chalk it up mostly to opening night jitters and pressure to win on all of them, but Oden looked tentative, Aldridge was playing soft, Roy couldn't throw it into the ocean for most of the night... and the Lakers - I swear, were they playing with seven players on the floor? They were EVERYWHERE. That team is deep, tall and fast.

 

[Commander Vaughn]

Go Pistons! They've taken their first step towards going 82-0 this season.

 

[Mallory]

It's good to see you having a winning team to root for for a change CV. Congrats!

 

[Capt. Vulcan]

Oden's out for 2-4 weeks. Bummer.

Lakers just destroyed the Clippers who are still trying to get used to their new lineup.

 

[Mallory]

Yeah, Oden is out but at least no surgery is required.

 

[gblews]

Let's hope it isn't serious - they got run out of the gym last night, for sure. Chalk it up mostly to opening night jitters and pressure to win on all of them, but Oden looked tentative, Aldridge was playing soft, Roy couldn't throw it into the ocean for most of the night... and the Lakers - I swear, were they playing with seven players on the floor? They were EVERYWHERE. That team is deep, tall and fast.

I would credit the Lakers' defense with making the Blazers look so bad. They were forced into nothing but outside shots, many of which were taken with the shot clock running out. Plus, the Blazers haven't been a good road team for years.

As for Oden, he is looking a bit brittle, though maybe it just seems that way because of a run of bad (injury) luck. But I do keep thinking about what a buddy of mine from Philly has been telling me; that Oden is way overrated. We'll see.

So far, so good with the Lakers. My two favorite players so far this young season have been Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza.

If we can avoid too many injuries with 4-6 week, or more, recovery periods and continue to concentrate on D, the Lakers should be a major headache for every team we play.

 

[Commander Vaughn]

It's good to see you having a winning team to root for for a change CV. Congrats!

Thanks Mallory. It's been pretty slim pickings here in Michigan lately when it comes to teams to root for. The Pistons have been consistently good for awhile now, and given the suckitude of the other teams around here I'm sure not taking that for granted anymore...

And the Pistons are now one more step closer to 82-0...